HawthorneVillager.com

we are getting it installed next week. no more relying on cell phones all the time.

that is all.

its through cogeco, 29.95 for the first year, unlimited within n/a and call answer, call display and all that stuff.
i have no phone line, and nothing was said about having a bell line. i hate bell and will not have any part with them.

hmm, i will have to call them. i told them that i had no phone line yet because i was waiting for them. they told me they do one free installation. im going to call them back now.

ok, i just called cogeco and they said you do not need a bell line.

You sure they didn't say you would need a cable line that they would put a filter on to block out the TV channels that you are not subscribing to but still get internet service?

Because the whole point of the Cogeco Voip is to not use the Bell POTS lines.

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http://www.phand.ca/

umm, im not sure what you are saying. i dont get any channels that im not paying for. they did say they were upgrading my computer modem, since i have high speed lite i guess.

Sorry, that was targetted to YellowLancer.

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Professional - Audio - Video - Data - Security - Central Vac - Insured - Trained - Certified
http://www.phand.ca/

haha, ok. i was starting to get worried, but i wasnt sure why.

Cogeco is responsible for one thing.. TV cable. They can run all kinds of services on that, including analogue TV, digital TV, internet/data services, and VOIP telephone services.

If they do not have cable run up to your house, they technically cannot provide the above services.

Bell is typically first in a neighbourhood as a telephone line is usually deemed an essential service over cable. So I guess if you need a regular telephone type service, Bell is it.

_________________
Professional - Audio - Video - Data - Security - Central Vac - Insured - Trained - Certified
http://www.phand.ca/

how do you like the phone? i have it booked to be installed the day after we get our keys but im alittle paranoid about it i must say.....

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Adrienne & Ryan

There are a lot of carriers in the area you can use for VOIP service. Cogeco is just one. If you hate BELL, you may also wish to check out Vonage or Primus (and there are others too). All plans are slightly different, offer different services for free, rates vary only slightly but all are essentially similar.

The thing about VOIP digital service is - as long as you already have an existing broadband internet connection, you can use any other company to provide the VOIP service for you. So your primary internet connection may be with COGECO (you get your internet access via them), and your VOIP phone service may still be Vonage (for example). It piggy backs on the broadband internet connection. You don't need any 'landline phone lines' because of that. Bell provides these services, too incidendally, apart from their regular land-line rates.

Most often, your VOIP phone service will run off of a special jack that is on the back of a ROUTER which you use with your existing internet setup (anyone here have a wireless router? Exactly like that - with an additional RJ11 phone-sized jack in it for the VOIP connection - (your network cable is RJ45)). Sometimes the router is even free* with paid monthly service (ie-> Vonage).

There's no free lunch, so expect to pay $30-$40 per month for decent service that usually includes unlimited calling within NorthAmerica, your choice of area-code for phone number, voicemail, Callforwarding, Callwaiting, CallerID, etc. It's all included in most of the decent plans out there. If the deal is a heck of a lot better than that, be skeptical of a "beta startup" program that might be really buggy to begin with (ie->dropped/missed calls, etc)

Here are some links to start you off:

(Vonage) http://www.vonage.ca/vc_landing_003/index.html

(Primus) http://www.lingo.com/voip/residential/home_plans.jsp

Cheers and hope that helps.

Daphne

(anyone here have a wireless router?

I have Vonage VoIP service with a Lynksys Wireless-G router (the router has 2 phone ports, I'm using only 1). I have Cogeco Internet Pro for my Internet access.

With Vonage I have a 514 area code number that was my old Bell number in Montreal. Now the kids and friends still in Montreal can call us for free. The Vonage package I have also includes unlimited North American calling so I can call them for no additional charge as well.

I also have a Bell line with a local Milton number.

I have 2 wired 2-line phones and 3 cordless 5.8GHz 2-line phones with both the Milton and Montreal numbers on each. One odd thing I found was that I had to buy Panasonic specific headsets for the Panasonic wired phones or there was a terrible feedback problem when using the VoIP line.

Having 5.8GHz phones eliminates any potential interference with the 2.4GHz wireless router. I have 2 or 3 wireless PCs using the modem at any given time and 3 wired PCs.

The whole works great for the most part. The Cogeco Internet goes down once in a while but not for long. When that happens the Bell line is still working so I can make phone calls if needed.

You can also drop Bell (if you want to) by adding a virtual number with a 416 area code.

In general, at least with Vonage, you can add virtual numbers to your main account. You use them, let's say if you have family on another province, you add a virtual number to your account (around $10 per month plus tax) and they call the number that is local to them and it rings your phone at no extra charge to you. Imagine the saving if you have family in UK and add an UK virtual number. Just another benefit of VOIP to consider.